Bomb squad accepting unwanted explosives

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The Tahoe Douglas Bomb Squad is offering an amnesty program in which people can turn in unwanted explosives.

The program is aimed at avoiding situations such as dynamite being found in December in the wall of a Carson City home endangering an entire neighborhood, said Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District spokesman Eric Guevin.

People occasionally walk into the fire department’s lobby carrying items such as a bagful of unused fireworks or black powder, said Jim Antti, commander of the Tahoe Douglas Bomb Squad.

“We don’t expect a lot of business from this, but there are a lot of people that have old ammunition, fireworks or explosives that they don’t know what to do with,” Antti said.

In most cases, he said, the Bomb Squad will accept explosive materials with no questions asked. Antti emphasized that people should not transport explosives themselves.

In Douglas County, unless it’s an emergency, people who with explosive material they would like to get rid of should call the bomb squad at 775-588-3591. In Carson City, residents can call 911 if disposal is an emergency. If it’s not, they can call the non-emergency line for the communications center at 775-887-2008.